EX. 12-15
THE stirring events of these chapters are an illustration of God's way of delivering souls from the bondage and power of sin and Satan, now fully made known in the gospel. First, the raising up of a deliverer and sending him on a special mission to Pharaoh, which might and should have been a peaceable one; then the judgment and destruction of the power of the enemy; and, lastly, the fulfillment of God's promises of blessing to His people Israel. The determined opposition of the king of Egypt had all been foreseen, and serves but to bring out the wonderful patience and forbearance of God, His changeless love toward His people, and finally, the completion of what was necessary for their salvation. How completely God fulfilled His own word, a comparison of the beginning and end of the 12th chapter will show (vv. 1, 2, 51).
But if the deliverance of Israel was complete, not so, as yet, their blessing; for God had pledged His word not only to bring them out of Egypt, but into the promised land, and this He effected in due course. How blessedly does all this point to what God has wrought in Christ, as now made known to us in the New Testament, and preached in all the world for the obedience of faith. The gospel received is the power of God unto salvation. In these closing days of the dispensation may we prayerfully and earnestly present the simple yet grand and glorious truths of the gospel, "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised the third day, according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4)! God will not modify or revise His glad tidings to suit the pride of educated man, whether scientific or religious. He was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. But our reconciliation demanded the bearing of our sins by the Lord Jesus on the cross, for sin was the cause of man's alienation from God.
For the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, Pharaoh must bow to God's word, or he must be broken. His power must be broken and he himself swept out of the way. But a far greater difficulty than the opposition of Pharaoh presented itself to be first dealt with, viz., the laying of a righteous foundation for the redemption of Israel. When God came into Egypt for judgment what was to screen the Israelites from His judgment, seeing there could be no partiality or unrighteousness with God? "We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth," says the apostle; and God had pledged Himself to the deliverance of His people. Yet, were they not sinners equally with the Egyptians? God ordained that Moses (type of Christ) should act as their deliverer, but the question of sin being raised, Moses could not settle that, nor could it be settled by power though it be divine. What was all the power of Pharaoh to God? And how could God, as judge, be righteously kept out of the houses of the Israelites?
When a soul is awakened God is thought of as judge, and rightly so, for God must judge sin, and man is a sinner. The conscience is alarmed, judgment is before the soul, and God's word only can speak peace. The believer fears meeting God in judgment even more than the sinner, because of his having a truer perception of what God is as holy and righteous. It was a true saint indeed, a man "after God's own heart," who wrote, "Hear my prayer, Jehovah, give ear to my supplications; in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified" (Ps. 143:1, 2). New Testament, having the whole truth as to sin and its judgment before his soul, is yet able to "exult in hope of the glory of God"! The displayed glory of God has for him no terrors, for Christ is the effulgence of that glory, and when He is manifested we (believers) shall be like, and with, Him. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.”
The gospel makes known the final and permanent settlement on the cross between God and Christ of the great question of sin. It is not now Adam's transgression only, but what has the world done with Christ? Where is Christ now? At the right hand of the Majesty on high. And "God has made that same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ." "Him whom ye slew and hanged on a tree, hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and Saviour, for to give repentance... and remission of sins" (Acts 2:36; 5:30-32). God is satisfied with the work Christ accomplished on the cross, and in result the absolute deliverance of everyone who believes in Jesus is secured. "Be it known unto you.... that through this man remission of sins is preached unto you" (Acts 13:38).
G. S. B.